Quality has been improved.

After two rounds of matches, the overall picture of the 4th Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament - 2026 THACO Cup (TNSV THACO Cup 2026) is gradually becoming clearer with many positive signs.

A shift in mindset and tactics.

Student football teams from all over the country are showing significant improvement in professional quality and organization compared to the previous season. The tournament, currently taking place at Nha Trang University's football field, demonstrates that Vietnamese student football is entering a new phase of development – ​​more systematic, tactical, and competitive. One of the most noticeable points after two rounds of matches is the significantly increased speed and intensity of play. Many matches are played at a high tempo, with teams actively pressing from the opponent's half, making the games more engaging and competitive.

After two rounds of 12 exciting matches, the final round of the TNSV THACO Cup 2026 recorded 29 goals (an average of 2.41 goals per match), with many beautiful goal-scoring combinations and effective use of set-piece combinations. Most teams displayed well-organized play thanks to coaches with professional qualifications from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Match supervisor Dao Duy Khoa commented: "While many teams in the 2025 season still relied heavily on individual flair, this year the teams have shown clearer tactical preparation. Many teams used popular modern football formations such as 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, or 4-1-4-1, combining mid-range pressing and very quick transitions to attack after winning possession. Many matches in this year's finals were clearly tactical, with more tightly organized lines and significantly reduced individual errors. The high tempo of play, with constant one-on-one challenges and transitions to attack, shows that the teams have better preparation in terms of physical fitness and tactics."

The final round of the THACO Cup 2026 witnessed a significant improvement in the professional level of the participating teams.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENT

ENSURING A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND

Coach Tran Van Dung from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry commented: "I've noticed that the professional level of the teams has improved significantly. We can see that the students' playing style is now very fast, with constantly changing situations and high technical skill. Players are forced to minimize unnecessary movements; even a slight delay will result in being pressed, so the game is very intense. But I'm also very happy that these situations only resulted in minor collisions and didn't lead to any regrettable incidents. Clearly, the fact that many teams are offering scholarship packages to attract players from youth training centers is raising the quality of the tournament considerably. This will create a significant challenge for public universities that have to comply with admission regulations. Therefore, every victory in the THACO Cup 2026 Finals is very meaningful to us. It's not an exaggeration to say that for the teams participating in the Finals, every match is as tense and fierce as a final."

The speed and intensity of the matches also require the supervisors and referees to maintain maximum concentration, ensuring that every challenge remains within acceptable limits. This shows that the 6 supervisors and 16 professional referees selected and assigned by the VFF to officiate at the finals have prepared very well. Referee Supervisor Nguyen Dinh Thai commented: "We clearly feel that the professional quality of this year's tournament is better than last season. The players competed with a spirit of fair play, and many beautiful goals were scored. The fan clubs present in the stadium also cheered very enthusiastically and civilly, in keeping with the spirit of the tournament 'Play beautifully - Win beautifully - Cheer beautifully'. The VFF and the Refereeing Committee have assigned referees with the best experience and professional quality. In addition, we have also created opportunities for young, promising referees to participate in officiating the tournament to hone the skills of the next generation. Up to this point, the refereeing force is doing a good job of fulfilling its assigned tasks, preventing and intervening promptly, and not allowing any unsportsmanlike situations to occur both on and off the field."

 

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chat-luong-duoc-nang-cao-185260312204341515.htm